Tennessee offers its driver’s license knowledge test in English and Spanish — as well as the less widely-spoken Korean, Japanese and German, which were added as carmakers from nations where those languages prevail came to Tennessee, officials have said.
For years, members of the state’s large Arabic-speaking community and other immigrant groups — observing that the ability to drive is a precondition for jobs and everyday tasks of Tennessee life — have asked the state to offer more language options for the exam.
“They’ve just gotten the run-around,” said Joseph Gutierrez, the executive director of Asian & Pacific Islanders of Middle Tennessee.
State officials often say they’re looking into it, he said by phone.
“But nothing changes,” Gutierrez said.